Tears of joy were abundant in the Ionia County Courthouse Tuesday during a Michigan Adoption Day ceremony that helped officially welcome a young girl into her new family.

After five years, Bobbie Hixon is now the proud daughter to John and Melissa Hixon and a new sister to Kage and Kobe Hixon and Ashley Coulson.

"All I want to do is be happy and love my family," said Bobbie, adding she is thankful for her new relatives. "I'm with a new family that loves me very much."

In addition to her immediate family, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers were present to celebrate the event.

"She's always been a good fit," said Melissa, who said Bobbie has felt like a daughter from the beginning.

Both she and John were emotional as they expressed their love for Bobbie and how proud they are to call her a Hixon.

Ionia County Probate Court Judge Robert Sykes presided over the ceremony, giving congratulations to the family.

"It's always a pleasure to be part of an adoption finalization," said Sykes. "The bottom line is you're giving her permanence."

He said he is thankful for the Hixons creating a good family for Bobbie and, as judge, is simply crossing the t's and dotting the i's in the relationship they have already established with her.

In addition to her adoption, Bobbie also was able to change her middle name from Jo to Ariel. Melissa said when Bobbie first came to their family, she loved the movie "The Little Mermaid" and wanted her birthday cake to have the name Bobbie Ariel upon it.